A group of six Texans involved in a dark web drug trafficking ring, who distributed almost 12 kilograms of methamphetamine disguised as Adderall pills, have been handed down prison sentences by a federal court in Cincinnati, as detailed by a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio. The defendants operated under the moniker "Loverbois" and other usernames, processing around 20 orders daily from July 2019 through December 2020 while laundering their cryptocurrency proceeds.
Court documents reveal the roles each individual played within the organization. Duc Cao Phung managed the account, handled orders, and oversaw the cryptocurrency transactions. In contrast, others like Ainoa Winniec Plumber Guzman and William David Goode Harris were involved in the creation of the drugs using industrial equipment at their Houston residence, which included a pill press and mixer. Tran was responsible for the supply of pills and making financial transactions. Guzman's right-hand, Zachary Kacmar Pray, helped with logistical tasks, in addition to Aaron Michael Dang, who played a crucial role in packing and laundering money to the tune of approximately $15,000 monthly, the laundering activities and the volume of drugs sold have led to severe legal repercussions for all involved.
The drug trafficking operation was exposed after undercover law enforcement agents in Ohio successfully ordered and received shipments of the counterfeit pills. This led to a federal grand jury indictment in June 2021, with the last of the defendants, Kevin Tran, receiving his sentence on September 30.
The announcement regarding the sentences was a joint effort encompassing various agencies, Kenneth L. Parker of the U.S. Attorney's Office, alongside special agents from the FBI, DEA, FDA-OCI, USPIS, and police chiefs from Mason and Houston aided by the JCODE team, all took part in bringing about the final sentences; the collaboration highlights the operations tackling the highest-level drug traffickers and the emphasis on dismantling problematic networks that exploit online platforms and the postal system to distribute narcotics, Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic C. “Fritz” Shadley prosecuted the case, marking a significant triumph for law enforcement agencies against such criminal operations.
